CARMEL VALLEY – To nationally ranked Danielle Flores, playing on the same tennis team with the reigning San Diego Section singles champion was an inviting proposition.

Not only would the incoming sophomore regularly hit with a top-level partner in practice, she would be united with one of her best friends at Cathedral Catholic High.

It was fellow sophomore and defending champion Gabi DeSimone who invited Flores to play for the Dons.

The two became acquainted through junior tennis, crossing paths at tournaments but only once playing each other. Their bond grew as Flores coped with the death of her father from illness in January.

“Right when he passed away, she was there for me,” said Flores, who was being home-schooled then as a freshman. “All of the sudden, we became friends during that time.”

In her year of home-schooling, Flores said her tennis game benefited from extra work on technical skills. Still, Flores missed the social aspect she had enjoyed in earlier grades at Santa Fe Christian School.

So Flores joined DeSimone at Cathedral, making the Dons the only section team to have two players ranked in the nation's top 100 in the girls 16 age group. DeSimone is No. 8 and Flores is No. 51.

“It's really great to hit with such great players because it helps us improve our game,” Cathedral junior Analese Snyder said. “Also, just to see how they carry themselves on the court during matches helps us to form our games. Even off the court, they're great, becoming friends (with everyone).”

The Dons entered the week seeking their third section Division III team title in five years. Semifinals are scheduled tomorrow with the finals Monday at the Barnes Tennis Center.

Cathedral won the Western League title this fall for the first time since the early 1990s. During the regular season, the Dons (16-1, 10-0) lost only a 10-8 decision to Torrey Pines, the defending Division I champion.

“All of our team is really excited,” Cathedral junior Ciria Mariscal said. “Having such good players on our team just inspires the whole team to become better players. We're really united, too, and that also really helps us with winning.”

Snyder and Mariscal played as freshmen on Cathedral's last section title team. The Dons have made six consecutive finals appearances.

Flores didn't challenge DeSimone for the Dons' No. 1 singles spot, instead respecting her teammate's reign as section champion. However, their practices are usually spirited.

“They're competitive,” coach Ron Marquez said. “Even early in the season, when we were doing running or conditioning drills, they were always seeing where the other was and making sure to finish at the same time.”

Flores took an interest in tennis with her late father, Louis, when her family lived in Brookfield, Wis., near Milwaukee. She became active in the game after moving to this area six years ago by taking lessons at La Costa Resort & Spa near her home.

Over the last two years, Flores, a 5-foot-612 right-hander, has trained at the Barnes Tennis Center. She has developed a multidimensional game, highlighted by hard shots with topspin and quick court movement from the baseline.

“I like to go for it,” Flores said. “I speak my mind and stuff, so on the tennis court I like to be in control. My personality and tennis game are similar.”

For the first time, she's part of a team.

“Having the team spirit and working with the team is really fun,” Flores said. “So far, this is one of the best Cathedral teams, and it's a real honor to be on the team.”

From the start, it's all been very inviting.